Pentagon shifts toward maintaining ties to Scouting

[BumRushDaShow]

Source: NPR

February 26, 2026 6:00 AM ET


After months of backlash, including from some Republicans, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth seems to be easing off his effort to sever the Pentagon's century-long relationship with Scouting America, the youth organization formerly known as the Boy Scouts.

Documents reviewed by NPR last fall detailed Hegseth's intention to cut the Scouts off for abandoning what one memo called "masculine virtues" and for attacking "boy-friendly spaces." The proposal would have barred Scout troops from meeting on U.S. bases, ended military assistance for the Scout Jamboree and eliminated a long-standing policy of offering advanced rank to Eagle Scouts who enlist.

About 25,000 children of U.S. service members are currently involved in Scouting America programs, according to the organization.

A new document recently obtained by NPR shows contingency plans to withdraw support are still being developed. But according to a Department of Defense source who asked not to be identified for fear of retribution, more effort is now going into negotiating a memorandum of understanding that will allow the partnership to continue.

Read more: https://www.npr.org/2026/02/26/nx-s1-5686528/pentagon-scouting-boys-girls-hegseth

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REFERENCES

https://www.democraticunderground.com/10143571642
https://www.democraticunderground.com/10143610705

[Initech]

1. God this administration is so fucking weird.

Fuck Pete Hegseth.

[LetMyPeopleVote]

2. As a former scout leader and father of an eagle scout, I am appalled at these concessions

I was one of the founders of my temple's scouting troop and my oldest was the first Eagle Scout for our troop. While I was also on the board of my Temple, an issue came up about the "official" BSA policy on gays in Scouting. This policy was intended to help keep the troops formed by LDS temples happy. I had to deal with board of the Temple and we had assurances from the leadership of our regional governing body that BSA had a "don't ask, don't tell" type policy with respect to sexual orientation of scouts. To make the board happy, I actually had to go meet with the leadership of our Council (the regional governing body). Among other things, I pointed out to the leadership of our council that my Temple and the other Temple with a scout troop had a good number of members on the board of United Way and other groups who help support scouting.

I am hoping that Hegseth is overstating the agreement with Scouting. I saw this in the Washington Post
https://www.washingtonpost.com/national-security/2026/02/27/hegseth-scouting-america

Hegseth’s announcement was less clear about the agreement’s impact on transgender children who wish to join the Scouts or remain in their Scouting troops. In his video statement, Hegseth said that Scouting America will “modify its policy to make clear that membership will be based solely on biological sex at birth and not gender identity,” and he assailed the organization for having “welcomed the destructive myth of gender fluidity and transgenderism to infiltrate their membership.”

“Any application will have only two sex designations, male and female, and the application must match the applicant’s birth certificate,” he said. “Scouting will also make clear that biological boys and girls will not be allowed to occupy or share intimate spaces together — toilets, showers, tents, anywhere like that.”

In a statement to The Washington Post, Scouting America said that children have always joined according to their biological gender and that no modification was necessary on that issue.

“Scouting has accepted transgender youth since 2017 and will continue to work with families to ensure transgender youth feel welcome in Scouting,” it said. “Scouting has extensive safeguarding policies and procedures in place to ensure the safety and comfort of youth members in all situations.”

I am really not happy with Hegseth's attacks on Scouting. I hope that "don't ask, don't tell" is still the policy of scouting

[BumRushDaShow]

3. I was a Girl Scount for 6 years (Brownies through to a year of Seniors)

And my mother was a Brownie Leader while me and my sisters were in that age group. She used to hold the meetings in our house and collected dues each week (10 cents each) in a little decorated metal box (that I still have).

[LetMyPeopleVote]

4. I was the cookie dad for both of my daughters when they were in girl scouts

I am happy that scouting is now co-ed and that there are now female Eagle Scouts.

I still buy more girl scout cookies that I should because of my time as a cookie dad.

[BumRushDaShow]

5. My mom volunteered to be the "Cookie Cupboard" one year for all the neighborhood troops

and I'll never forget when the 18-wheeler pulled up in front of our house and unloaded 92 cases of cookies in our sun porch!!!!

I always try to find cookies every year (usually a troop will set up in a supermarket). Haven't been as lucky the past couple years, probably due to the pandemic, but I keep trying (I know they sell them online too).

[LetMyPeopleVote]

6. I brought both daughters to my offices and had them sell the cookies

I remember having to use a dolly to deliver the cookies to the people in my office. My mentor's daughter was in girl scouts while we before we merged with a larger firm. She went to a couple of client events and sold enough cookies to some clients that she won some sort of award. We had a closet of cookies at the firm that we would use for client meetings.

[BumRushDaShow]

7. The work sellers were always welcomed!

I looked forward to the parents doing the orders and then bringing in the stash!